Body Armor Standard Gear for FL Fire Department
By Joe Mario Pedersen
Source Orlando Sentinel
Jacksonville firefighters began equipping themselves with bullet resistant vests this week, according to a report by Action News Jax, a news station serving northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.
The vests have officially become part of the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department’s standard gear, after the agency requested them following August’s shooting at The Jacksonville Landing, which left two victims dead during a Madden NFL video game tournament.
JFRD firefighters were across the street performing a training exercise while the shooting was ongoing and were the first responders on scene, the report stated.
The agency added more than 400 vests to its uniform budget as a means to better protect first responders in similar crisis situations. JRFD crew members are also training with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in how to respond to active shooter situations.
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